Fred Willard, the comedic improv-style actor, has died at 86

Fred Willard, the comedic actor whose improv style kept him relevant for more than 50 years in films like “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Best In Show” and “Anchorman,” has died. He was 86.

Winter arts guide 2019

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2019/01/24/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/interartsweb-02.jpg Check out the Winter Arts Guide 2019

Upcoming concerts, shows, performances in theater, music, dance, art, and television.

Special section

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2015/08/27/BostonGlobe.com/Arts/Images/spotlight-S_09159_rgb.jpg The story behind the ‘Spotlight’ movie

A look at The Boston Globe’s coverage of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and the movie “Spotlight,” which is based on the stories and the reporters behind the investigation.

Latest Arts headlines

Dan Budnik, who photographed civil rights movement, dies

Acclaimed photographer Dan Budnik, noted for his portraits of artists in New York in the 1960s and documenting the civil rights movement and Native American culture, has died. He was 87.

Italy’s pioneering comic actor, Franca Valeri, dies at 100

Franca Valeri, an elegant, ironic and versatile actor who pioneered female comic roles in Italy’s post-war years and helped the nation laugh at its foibles, has died at 100.

Mr. Soria at the nominations for the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards in December.

Lorenzo Soria, president of Golden Globes group, dies at 68

Lorenzo Soria, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and former editor of the Italian news weekly L’Espresso, died Friday, the association said. He was 68.

Spain’s former queen, Sofia (left), and former king, Juan Carlos I (right).

Spain’s former king leaving country amid financial scandal

Spain’s former monarch, Juan Carlos I, is leaving Spain to live in another, unspecified, country amid a financial scandal, according to a letter published on the royal family’s website Monday.

A lawsuit filed against Fox News accuses fired anchor Ed Henry (left) of violent sex and rape. It also alleges inappropriate comments by anchors Tucker Carlson (center) and Sean Hannity.

Two women sue Fox News, claiming misconduct by top stars

A former employee has sued Ed Henry and Fox News, describing a history of workplace harassment and a relationship with the fired anchor that she said included violent sex and rape.

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro.

USA Today: Navarro’s anti-Fauci column didn’t meet standards

USA Today says that a column that the newspaper solicited and published from presidential trade adviser Peter Navarro criticizing Dr. Anthony Fauci was misleading and did not meet fact-checking standards.

‘Magic School Bus’ author Joanna Cole dies at age 75

Author Joanna Cole, whose “Magic School Bus” books transported millions of young people on extraordinary and educational adventures, has died at age 75.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg released from hospital

The Supreme Court said Wednesday that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was discharged from a hospital after being treated for a possible infection.

World-class hoop dancer Nakotah LaRance dies

Mr. LaRance traveled the world performing with Cirque du Soleil, then returned to New Mexico to coach youth dancers.

Rudolfo Anaya, ‘godfather’ of Chicano literature, dies at 82

Mr. Anaya helped launch the 1970s Chicano Literature Movement with his novel “Bless Me, Ultima,” a book celebrated by Latinos.

Mr. Kern spent decades working to build up the famed celebration held in New Orleans each year.

Blaine Kern Sr., New Orleans’ ‘Mr. Mardi Gras,’ dies at 93

Blaine Kern Sr., a float builder who was often credited with helping expand New Orleans’ Mardi Gras celebration into a giant event known worldwide, has died.

Joel Schumacher, director of ‘St. Elmo’s Fire,’ dies at 80

Joel Schumacher, the eclectic and brazen filmmaker who dressed New York department store windows before shepherding the Brat Pack to the big screen in “St. Elmo’s Fire” and steering the Batman franchise into its most baroque territory in “Batman Forever” and “Batman & Robin,” has died. He was 80.

‘Shadow of the Wind’ author Carlos Ruiz Zafón dead at 55

Mr. Zafón’s wildly popular 2001 novel, “The Shadow of the Wind,” led to three sequels and made him one of the world’s most beloved Spanish authors.

Judge: Bolton can publish book despite efforts to block it

A federal judge ruled Saturday that former national security adviser John Bolton can move forward in publishing his tell-all book despite efforts by the Trump administration to block the release because of concerns that classified information could be exposed.

More than 200,000 copies of the book by John Bolton have already been printed and distributed to booksellers.

Judge weighs US bid to stop release of John Bolton’s book

A federal judge on Friday criticized former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton for moving to publish his book without formal clearance from the White House, but the judge suggested he was probably powerless to stop its release given that copies of the manuscript have already been widely distributed.

AMC Theaters reverses course on masks after backlash

The nation’s largest movie theater chain changed its position on mask-wearing less than a day after the company became a target on social media for saying it would defer to local governments on the issue.

Hollywood power publicist and pal to stars Nanci Ryder dies

Bonnie Pointer, early member of Pointer Sisters, dies at 69

Ms. Pointer, a Grammy-winning founding member of the Pointer Sisters, was essential to the group’s early success but left the group before most of their biggest hits.

Tobe Hooper, horror master behind ‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,’ dies at 74

Mr. Hooper had wanted to make a work of art — a cinematic masterpiece in the mold of his Italian idols, directors Federico Fellini and Michelangelo Antonioni.

Music industry calls for Black Out Tuesday amid unrest

The music industry is planning to turn off the music and hold a day to reflect and implement change in response to the death of George Floyd and the killings of other black people.

William Small, ‘hero to journalism’ at CBS, NBC, dies at 93

Longtime broadcast news executive William J. Small, who led CBS News’ Washington coverage during the civil rights movement, Vietnam War and Watergate and was later president of NBC News and United Press International, died Sunday, CBS News said. He was 93.

Ken Osmond, Eddie Haskell on ‘Leave It to Beaver,’ dies

Mr. Osmond, on TV’s “Leave It to Beaver,” played two-faced teenage scoundrel Eddie Haskell, a role so memorable it left him typecast and led to a second career as a police officer.

Ms. Shelton wrote and directed eight feature films in the span of 14 years.

‘Little Fires Everywhere’ director Lynn Shelton dies at 54

Lynn Shelton, an independent filmmaker who directed “Humpday” and “Little Fires Everywhere,” has died. She was 54.

Astrid Kirchherr, photographer of the Beatles, dies at 81

The German photographer who shot some of the earliest and most striking images of the Beatles and had a lasting impact on their visual style, died Tuesday in her native Hamburg, days before her 82nd birthday.

John Macurdy, bass who sang 1,001 times at Met, dies at 91

Mr. Macurdy sang 1,001 performances at the Metropolitan Opera over four decades and created characters in notable world premieres.

Grammy-winning 1970s soul singer Betty Wright dies at 66

Betty Wright, the Grammy-winning soul singer and songwriter whose influential 1970s hits included “Clean Up Woman” and “Where is the Love,” has died at age 66.

Jagger, Dylan, Quincy Jones react to death of Little Richard

Elizabeth Ellis, longtime Journal Inquirer publisher, dies

Elizabeth Ellis, the longtime publisher of the Journal Inquirer in Connecticut, has died. She was 92.

Idir, whose real name was Hamid Cherie, was a champion of the Kabyle culture and a national treasure in Algeria.

Algerian singer Idir, a Berber icon, has died in Paris

Idir, an Algerian singer who gave voice to the Berber and Kabyle cultures, has died in Paris. He was 70.

Mr. Lloyd appeared in 95 episodes of “Scrubs” as Ted Buckland, a sad-sack lawyer with low self-esteem who came alive when singing with his a cappella group.

Sam Lloyd, ‘Scrubs’ actor, dies at 56

Mr. Lloyd was a longtime television and film actor who appeared in the television shows “Scrubs” and “Desperate Housewives.”

Ramadan TV series about Gulf Jews ignites controversy

A television series aired by a Saudi broadcaster during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan has sparked controversy by offering a positive depiction of a Jewish community in the Gulf at the time of Israel’s creation.

Satellite imagery finds likely Kim train amid health rumors

A train likely belonging to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been parked at his compound on the country’s east coast since last week, satellite imagery showed, amid speculation about his health that has been caused, in part, by a long period out of the public eye.

Saudi Arabia ends death penalty for minors and floggings

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has ordered an end to the death penalty for crimes committed by minors, according to a statement Sunday by a top official.

Award-winning reporter Josh Kovner dead at 61

Mr. Kovner worked at the Courant for nearly 25 years and was part of a team of journalists that won a Pulitzer Prize for reporting on the deadly 1998 shootings at the Connecticut Lottery headquarters.

Harold Reid, Statler Brothers bass singer, dies at 80

Harold Reid, who sang bass for the Grammy-winning country group the Statler Brothers, has died after a long battle with kidney failure. He was 80.

Betsy Wyeth, widow and muse of Andrew Wyeth, dies at 98

Betsy Wyeth was the widow, business manager, and muse of painter Andrew Wyeth.

Sirio Maccioni, who opened famed eatery Le Cirque, dies

Mr. Maccioni watched Le Cirque grow into arguably Manhattan’s favorite dining room of the rich and famous.

Brian Dennehy, Tony-winning stage, screen actor, dies at 81

Mr. Dennehy, a burly actor, started in films as a macho heavy and later in his career won plaudits for his stage work.

‘E.T.,’ ‘Bugsy’ cinematographer Allen Daviau dies at 77

Mr. Daviau shot three of Steven Spielberg’s films, including “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.”

Condé Nast, the publishing giant behind Vogue, The New Yorker, and Vanity Fair, has its headquarters in the One World Trade Center in New York.

Pay cuts come to Condé Nast, the glossy publisher of Vogue and Vanity Fair

Condé Nast, the most glittering of all magazine publishers, is the latest media casualty of the coronavirus pandemic.

Allen Garfield, elite ’70s character actor, dies at 80

Mr. Garfield was a vital player in classic 1970s films like “The Conversation” and “Nashville.”

Country singer Joe Diffie dies of coronavirus complications

Mr. Diffie had a string of hits in the 1990s with chart-topping ballads and honky-tonk singles like “Home” and “Pickup Man.”

Trump says he expects Russia, Saudis to cut oil production

But the Kremlin disputed part of Trump’s tweet, leading to skepticism that a deal was imminent.

Mr. Marsalis was a regular at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

New Orleans jazz patriarch Ellis Marsalis dead at 85

Ellis Marsalis, jazz pianist, teacher and patriarch of a New Orleans musical family that includes famed musician sons Wynton and Branford, has died. He was 85.

‘Never Rarely Sometimes Always’ is a quietly devastating drama about the lives of young women in America

“Never Rarely Sometimes Always” is a road-trip movie, but with the stakes high and the hi-jinks nonexistent.

Hong Kong opposition politician arrested over Facebook post

An opposition politician in Hong Kong has been arrested over an online post criticizing a policeman who blinded a journalist in one eye during anti-government protests last year, local media said.

(FILES) In this file photo taken on July 02, 2019 US director Woody Allen looks on within a press conference for the presentation of his stage production of Giacomo Puccinis one-act opera

Woody Allen has new publisher, memoir out Monday

Woody Allen’s memoir, “Apropros of Nothing”, dropped by its original publisher after widespread criticism, has found a new home at Arcade Publishing.